Hello, Lissaspence.
For a complete chess set of such chess pieces in good condition, (despite the damage you describe to the box), the market value does indeed seem to vary. You can see that on ebay itself.
However, there are other locations on the Web, as well as via an occasional yard sale, a flea market, in-person auctions, etc, where the "realized" or asking price can be significantly less. Over the past 1 - 15 yeas, I have seen prices range from about $300 on up to (perhaps) over $1,000(?)
And it should be noted that over the years, one see that prices often fluctuate on most vintage and/or antique items, depending on a number of factors. The set is not antique, of course, but it is at least vintage. (The monetary value of old things does not always go up, as much as some sellers, antique dealers, variety stores, booth vendors might like you to think.)
Back in 2002 or so, I wrote an article on that chess set. Thanks to Floyd and Bernice Sarisohn, "curators" of the Long Island Chess Museum (Lichess@aol.com) the article appeared in the CCI (Chess Collectors International) Philadelphia 2002 Convention Program. Perhaps you can contact Floyd and Bernice and obtain a copy of that article?
And finally, if your husband (and you) like it so much, and since he plays chess, I might advice you to just keep it for yourselves - and join the rest of us zany, creative, marvelous, intelligent(?) chess collectors in collecting chess sets? (Did I also happen to slip in the words..... potentially neurotic but FUN and WONDERFUL....?)
:^O
John from Vermont. P.S. Or, if you give me your email address, I could probably dig up a copy of that Program and send you a copy of the article.... But I would also suggest that you still contact Floyd and Bernice.
